Intelligent design and schools: a 'real world' solution.

I'd like to offer my recommendation about how to approach the teaching of "intelligent design" in our schools. I believe that this topic is best approached by discussing "Naturalism" and "Supernaturalism" and where each should be taught.

I define Naturalism as the system of thought holding that all phenomena can be explained in terms of natural causes and laws. Supernaturalism, in contrast, is belief in a supernatural agency that intervenes in the course of natural laws. Naturalism should be taught in our schools, and Supernaturalism should be taught in the home and in the church.

Teaching Supernaturalism (including intelligent design) in our schools has proven to be very divisive within the community--witness what happened in Dover, Pa., and in Frazier Park, Calif. Every parent has an opinion on what constitutes the "correct" view of the Supernatural, and parents will be very concerned that their children will be taught an "incorrect" view. Therefore, there will be massive parental involvement in the form of debating, arguing, berating and accusations regarding any curriculum that covers the Supernatural, be it a mandatory class or an elective class. Students would be far better off if their parents would spend a fraction of the time they'll spend arguing about the Supernatural content of courses helping their children do better in school.

Furthermore, many teachers will attempt to promote their personal view of the Supernatural based on their particular faith--it will just be too hard to resist. For example, in Frazier Park, Calif., a teacher was planning to teach biblical accounts of creation in a course that was supposed to focus on intelligent design.

Teaching Supernaturalism in schools will also sap precious resources away from teaching students the critical life skills that they need. In many cases, our schools are graduating students who are barely literate and barely able to do math. Dropout rates are unacceptably high. Drug and alcohol use is rampant, as is teenage pregnancy. Schools need to focus on these issues, not Supernaturalism.

Because evolution is the cornerstone of biology, if evolution is denigrated, biology education will likewise suffer. As biology education suffers, so will medical education. This would all be very detrimental to our country's future as the world's leader in science and medicine.

In an ideal world, Supernaturalism could perhaps be taught in our schools and the above problems wouldn't occur. However, in the real world, all of the above problems will occur and society in general, and students in particular, will suffer.

I believe that parents, not schools, should have the responsibility and the privilege to provide instruction in the Supernatural to their children.

--Dave Sventek

Fort Collins, Colo.